Shirakami Mountains

Japanese: 白神山地 - しらかみさんち

This mountainous area, which was registered as a World Heritage Site (natural heritage site) in Japan in 1993, stretches from the southwest of Aomori Prefecture to the northwest of Akita Prefecture. Located at the northern end of the Dewa Mountains, Shirakami-Sanchi is a series of mountains with an altitude of about 1000m, including the 1243m Mukai Shirakami-dake, the 1232m Mt. Shirakami-dake, and the 1086m Mt. Futatsumori-dake. The area that was registered as a World Heritage Site is about 170 ^km2 in the center, and the virgin beech forest in the area is said to be one of the largest in the world. This pure beech forest is home to about 500 species of plants, 14 species of mammals such as the Japanese serow, Japanese macaque, and Asiatic black bear, 84 species of birds such as the endangered golden eagle, black woodpecker, and mountain hawk-eagle, and about 2000 species of insects. Several rivers flow through the virgin beech forest, which has high water retention, and many waterfalls create beautiful scenery. In particular, the "Anmon Falls" and "Kurokuma Falls" on the Aomori side are famous.

Source: Kodansha World Heritage Sites Detailed Explanation Information

Japanese:

1993年に登録された日本の世界遺産（自然遺産）で、青森県南西部から秋田県北西部にまたがる山岳地帯。出羽山地の北端部に位置する白神山地には、1243mの向(むかい)白神岳をはじめ、1232mの白神岳、1086mの二ツ森岳など、標高1000m級の山々が連なっている。世界遺産に登録されたのはその中心部分の約170km²で、一帯のブナの原生林は世界最大級といわれる。このブナの純林には約500種の豊富な植物とニホンカモシカ、ニホンザル、ツキノワグマなど14種の哺乳類、絶滅が危惧されるイヌワシ、クマゲラ、クマタカなど84種の鳥類や約2000種にも上る昆虫類が確認されている。保水性の高いブナの原生林からは幾筋もの川が流れ、多くの滝が美しい景観を作り出している。特に、青森県側の「暗門の滝」と「くろくまの滝」が有名。◇英名はShirakami-Sanchi

出典　講談社世界遺産詳解について　情報

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